Well pump means



Oct. 31, 1961 M. M. Ross 3,006,201

WELL PUMP MEANS Filed Nov. 12, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JUI- I00 L I M l/VVE/VTOR MILBURN M. ROSS ATTORNEY M. M. ROSS WELL PUMP MEANS Oct. 31, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 15 new INVENTOR MILBURN M. ROSS ATTORNEY M. M. ROSS WELL PUMP MEANS Oct. 31, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 MILBURN M. ROSS TTOR/VEY %%MM United States 3,006,201 WELL PUMP MEANS Milburn M. Ross, 631 N. Bluff, Wichita, Kans. Filed Nov. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 695,673 3 Claims. (Ci. 7441) This invention relates to pumping. In a more specific aspect this invention relates to means for pumping wells, particularly oil wells. In still a more specific aspect this invention relates to pump jacks for pumping oil wells. In yet a more specific aspect this invention relates to new pump jack means for pumping oil wells, which utilizes a pivoted horsehead assembly to increase the travel of the pump polish rod relative to the distance of travel of the walking beam upon rocking, and which means provides for movement of the pump polish rod up and down in substantially a perpendicular or straight line.

Means for pumping wells has long been known in the art, and it is common in the prior art to use a pump jack having an upright Samson post mounted on a horizontally disposed base structure. A walking beam is commonly mounted on the top of this Samson post, the walking beam rocking up and down in operation. On one end of the common walking beam is mounted a horsehead to which is attached means connecting the horsehead and pump jack to the pump polish rod. The other end of the walking beam of the prior art mounts counterbalance weights, and this portion of the walking beam on one side of the Samson post is connected to power means which rocks the walking beam relative to the Samson post in operation. The usual powering means of the pump jack devices of the prior art consists of a motor or engine which is connected to the walking beam by gearing, normally a gear box assembly connected to the motor engine by pulley belts. In the common pump jacks of the prior art the polish rod of the pump moves up and down the same distance as the end of the walking beam to which the polish rod is attached. Means have been proposed to increase polish rod travel in relation to walking beam travel, but they have been unsuccessful either from a manufacturing standpoint or from an operational standpoint. Further, the usual pump jack means is inefficient and diflicult to use and contend with when the well and auxiliary equipment must be worked, for example, the tubing pulled, the pump replaced, the well cleaned out, etc. The pump jack equipment, including the horsehead and walking beam, and even the Samson post, is in the way, making it difficult to use rod and tubing servicing equipment, and the like. Sometimes in working and repairing, it is necessary to completely move the pump jack back from the area of the well. Additional inefliciency and Waste of energy and equipment is present in the common pump jack equipment known in the prior art. For example, it is common to use powering means much greater in potential output than is necessary to operate the pump jack during pumping operation, this being done so that the power is available to lift the weighting means when the counterbalance of the pump is not present or available. Such is experienced when repairing equipment, working the well to clean same, and the like. I have invented new well pump means which overcomes all of the disadvantages experienced with the pump means known in the prior art, and common to Well pumping operations. In the preferred embodiments of the new well pumping means of my invention, the travel of the pump polish rod is much greater than the travel of the end of the walking beam which mounts the preferred pivoted horsehead assembly of my invention. The new pump means of my invention in the preferred embodiment is easily and conveniently moved back out of the immediate well area, including the Samson post, the walking beam, and the preferred 3,006,201 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 "ice pivoted horsehead assembly. tIn the new well pump means of my invention the pump polish rod moves up and down in substantially a perpendicular or straight line during well pumping operations. This provides for long life, cuts down wear very substantially, and saves a great deal of energy which is commonly wasted by the known pump jack means. Further, I have provided new pump jack means which can be handled mechanically by hand crank means. This provides for a pump jack which needs only power means of potential output enough to operate the pump jack during pumping operation. The new well pumping means of my invention is indeed a great step forward in the art.

The new pump means of my invention has a base. This base is normally horizontally disposed at the site of the oil or water well. A Samson post is mounted on the base. It is preferred that this Samson post be tiltably mounted on the base in the preferred specific embodiments of my new pump means. A walking beam is tiltably mounted on the upper end portion of the Samson post. One end portion of the walking beam is provided to receive and secure a pump rope or cable, which is in turn during operation connected to a pump polish rod or similar device. The other end portion of the walking beam mounts counterbalance means. #Means are pro vided to rock the walking beam up and down in operation. The attachment means on the end portion of the walking beam are so constructed and the walking beam is pivotally mounted in a manner that the pump rope or cable or like means in operation remains substantially in a straight line upon rocking the walking beam. In a preferred specific embodiment of the new pump means of my invention, I preferably pivotally mount a horsehead on the well operating end of the walking beam to compound the stroke of same relative to the pump polish rod. In the preferred specific embodiment connecting means operationally connect the pivoted horsehead assembly to the Samson post preferably.

It is an object of this invention to provide new pumping means.

It is another object of this invention to provide new pump jack means for the pumping of wells, particularl oil or water wells. I

Another object of this invention is to provide new pump jack means for pumping oil wells which will compound the stroke of the walking beam upon operation relative to the travel of the well pump polish rod.

Still another object of this invention is to provide new pump jack means which is completely adjustable with regard to the travel of the well pump polish rod relative to the travel distance of the end of the walking beam to which it is connected.

A further object of this invention is to provide new pump jack means for pumping wells, the structural members of which can be easily and conveniently moved out of the immediate well area for working the well, particularly moving the Samson post, walking beam, and horsehead back out of the immediate well area.

An additional object of this invention is to provide new pump jack means which can be handled as necessary by hand when not in pumping operation, resulting in less power means requirement.

Another object of this invention is to provide new pump jack means, which are easy and economical to build and install, efiicient in operation, and convenient and economical to repair or replace the parts thereof, and which can conveniently be constructed mobile or portable.

Other objects and advantages of the new pump jack means of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure.

These drawings depict a preferred specific embodiment of the new pump jack means of my invention, and it is to be understood that the drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention. In the drawings,

PEG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred specific embodiment of pump jack means of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of same.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the horsehead of the new pump jack means of my invention of FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the horsehead and walking beam in up, middle and down operating position, with the horsehead in dotted lines in up and down position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the horsehead and walking beam in up operating position.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the horsehead and walking beam in down position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view partly in cross section of the horsehead and walking beam with the horsehead tilted back and resting in rest position on the top surface of the walking beam.

Following is a discussion and description of the new pump jack means of my invention made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same or similar parts or structure. The discussion and description is of a preferred specific embodiment of the new pump jack means of my invention, and it is to be understood that such is not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings, wherein is depicted the most preferred specific embodiment of the new pump jack means of my invention, shown in the drawings of the application, the pump jack is supported on the horizontally disposed base 26, which is preferably formed of spaced channel beam members 28, which are bent outwardly in their forward end portions. The rear ends of the spaced channel beam members 28 are suitably secured, preferably by welding, to a transverse base member 30, which can conveniently be flat stock or a channel beam. Pad members 32, preferably of metal, are suitably mounted on the ends of channel beams 28, and transverse member 30. Base plate 34 is suitably secured to the bottom of base members 28. It serves to rest channel beams 28 on the usual concrete foundation (not shown) and to provide backing for Samson post 36 when such is in pumping position (FIG. 1).

Samson post 36 is preferably constructed of a pair of spaced and parallel channel beams 38. These channel beams 38 are pivotally secured in their lower end portions to channel beams 28 on the outside thereof. Nut and bolt means 40 passing through beams 38 and 28 is preferably used to so pivotally mount the Samson post 36. Samson post 36 is preferably tiltably mounted with the lower ends of beams 38 cut away at the rear to allow them to tilt backwardly. As will be obvious to one skilled in the art, this preferred tiltable mounting can be accomplished by pivotal mounting with the pivot point to the rear of beams 38. A plate 42 is suitably secured to the upper edges of beams 28 and thereacross. A shoe 44 is suitably mounted on the forward edges of beams 38. The toe portion of shoe 44 engages plate 42 or beams 28 when Samson post 36 is in upright position, which is the position shown in FIG. 1, and the position of Samson post 36 when the pump is in operating position. Samson post 36 is preferably maintained in upright position by bolt means 46 passing through the toe of shoe 44 and being threadedly engaged in plate 42 or beams 28. A fixed pivot 48 is suitable mounted on the front edges of channel beams 38 at the lower end portions thereof. This fixed pivot 48 is attached to bracket means 50 which is in turn suitably attached to beams 38 of Samson post 36. A bolt 52 passing through fixed pivot member 48 and threadedly secured in bracket 4- means 50 has been found satisfactory. Pivot member 48 has a rope groove around the outside edge thereof to receive operating rope or cable 54. Of course, member 54 can be a bar or rod connecting link or a. chain, if desired.

A walking beam 56 is pivotally mounted in an inner portion between channel beams 38 of Samson post 36. This walking beam 56 rocks up and down during pumping operation of the pump jack means. The walking beam is preferably constructed of two spaced and parallel steel beams 58. The beam is mounted on the upper end of Samson post 36 preferably by a shaft 60 bearingly mounted through beams 58, the ends of shaft 60 being fixed in cap members 62 suitably mounted on the upper ends of beams 38. Nut means 64 secure the ends of shaft 60, and shaft 60 is preferably mounted through beams 58 by bearing means 66.

A hanger member 68 is pivotally mounted in its upper end on the outer end of walking beam 56 members 58 by a shaft 70 journaled in pillar bearings 72 which are mounted on the outer ends of the upper edges of walking beam members 58. This hanger member 68 mounts a shaft 74 in its lower end portion, and this shaft 74 in turn pivotally mounts horsehead 76, the ends of shaft 74 preferably being fixed in spaced and parallel horsehead members 78, and shaft 74 preferably being journaled in hanger member 68. Of course, if desired, shaft 74 can be journaled directly in the outer end of walking beam 56. Shaft 74 preferably has spacer sleeve mounted thereon between hanger members 68 and horsehead members 78. This sleeve 80 maintains the proper spacing, and preferably houses the mounting bearings, and rests against the outer ends of beams 58 when hanger 68 is in forward and down position, which is the position for pump jack operation. The forward ends of beams 58 preferably have lower projecting portions 82 forming a ledge on which sleeve 80 and shaft 74 therein rest.

Horsehead 76 and its spaced parallel members 78 are preferably of the shape shown in the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 8. Members 78 have rearwardly projecting portions 84, and arcuate outer edges. An upper cable return and connecting member 86 is suitably mounted between members 78. This member 86 and the forward edges of side members 78 have a contiguous rope or cable groove 88 therein. This contiguous rope groove 88 receives and mounts operating rope or cable 90. The ends of rope or cable 90 are attached to connecting member 92 which mounts the pump polish rod (not shown) when the pump jack assembly is in operating position, the position of FIG. 1. The ends of rope or cable 54 are pivotally secured in any suitable manner to the outer end portions of arm portions 84 of horsehead members 78. This connecting means 54 can also conveniently be wire or chain, or other suitable means. When walking beam 56 rocks up and down in pumping operation, horsehead 76 pivots around shaft 74, since the distance between fixed pivot assembly 48 and the horsehead 76 remains constant as measured by connecting means 54. In addition, horsehead 76 as a whole moves up and down in an arc with the end of walking beam 56. The arcuate outer edges of horsehead members 78, having the rope or cable grooves 88 therein, are so shaped that in operation cable 90 moves up and down in substantially a straight line and perpendicular. Thus, the pump polish rod (not shown) moves up and down in substantially a straight and perpendicular line, eliminating Wear and reducing frictional losses. This is best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, where the up, center and lower positions of horsehead 76 are shown. The up and lower positions of horsehead 76 are in dotted lines on the drawings. FIGS. 6 and 7 show these up and lower positions of horsehead 76, respectively, in solid lines. Further, as a result of this unique and new structure of the pump jack means of my invention, the travel of operating cable 90 and thus the pump polish rod is increased over the up and down travel of the walking beam 56, resulting in a compounded pump stroke. The new pump jack structure of my invention results in a smaller and more compact unit which is very portable, and with the same length of pump polish rod stroke for the usual much larger non-portable unit.

Counterbalancing weighting means 94 is suitably mounted on the rear end portion of walking beam 56. In the usual manner, quarter-weights, half-weights and weights are removably mounted so that the counterbalance weight can be adjusted according to the pump load. These weights 96 are secured by weight attaching angle irons 98 which are suitably secured to beam members 58 and by weight clamps and adjusting means 100 suitably mounted on the walking beam 56. A front bearing support and weighting member 182 is suitably mounted between walking beam 56 members 58. And a rear bearing supporting member and weight 104 is suitably mounted between walking beam members 58. A stroke adjuster and aligner is mounted between these bearing support members 102 and 104. This stroke adjuster and aligner is shown as member 106 on the drawings. It has a plurality of spaced holes 108 therein which receive a shaft and aligning bearings 110 in the desired hole 108. Connecting members 112 are secured to transverse bar 114, the other end of connecting member 112 being pivotally mounted on shaft and aligning bearings 110. Crank arms 116 are suitably connected in their upper end portions to transverse connecting member 114 in its end portions by nut and bolt means 118. The lower end of crank arms 116 mount crank pins 120, and these crank pins 128 are rotatably mounted in crank arms 122 which is powered from speed reduction and gearing box assembly 124 by rotating shaft 126. This speed reduction gearing is of conventional design, and it is suitably mounted on base member channel beams 28. Speed reduction gearing 124 is powered by motor means 128, which is preferably mounted on the base member beams 28 by suitable adjustable motor mount means shown generally at 138. Pulley belts 144 connect the power shaft of motor 128 to the input shaft of speed reduction gearing 124. The adjustable motor mount means 130 can be used to tighten the pulley belts 144. The input shaft to speed reduction gearing 124, namely shaft 146, preferably mounts a worm spur gear 148 to turn therewith. This worm spur gear 148 is utilized in operating the pump jack means to pivot the walking beam 56 by hand. This is desirable when the pump jack means is positioned for working in the vicinity of the well, particularly when the Samson post 36 is tilted back. An operating worm gear (not shown) is mounted to engage gear 148 and to be turned by hand crank 154. Pins 156 are retractably mounted in brackets to position operating worm gear in operating engagement with worm spur gear 148 or out of operating engagement therewith. Of course, other engagement means can be used. When the pins 156 are in extended position, the gears are in operating position, and when the pins 156 have been retracted, the gears are out of operating engagement. By these means, the gearing 124 can be operating by hand to rock walking beam 56 and move same into desired position. This type of operating means has great advantage. It cuts down on the requirements of motor 128 from the power standpoint, making it only necessary to have the motor large enough to operate the pump jack during pumping operation. Also, the preferred hand operated means has the great advantage that it is self-locking and will remain in the position to which it has been turned and which is desired. The pump jack assembly can be rather completely tilted back to move out of the immediate well area so that this area can be worked with the usual auxiliary equipment in maintaining an oil well. In FIG. 8 the laid back position of horsehead 76 is shown, to show how the horsehead 76 can be moved back out of the way and from above the immediate well area. Horsehead 76 rear arm portions 84 have apertures 158 therethrough. The outer end portions of walking beam members 56 have apertures 160 therethrough, which are substantially the same size as apertures 158. A pin (not shown) is passed through these apertures 158 and 160 when in alignment to coincide to permit the tilting back of Samson post 36.

As will be apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the construction of horsehead member 78 and the manner of securing the rope or cable 54 or other connecting member to the arm portions 84 thereof is desirably such that a relatively small amount of leverage or mechanical advantage from the horsehead on rope or cable is obtained when the horsehead 78 is in the up position (FIG. 6), and a relatively greater amount of leverage therefrom is obtained as the horsehead 78 moves through its other positions (FIGS. 5 and 7). This is very desirable since this changing leverage as horsehead 78 and walking beam 58 move through the various positions eliminates a substantial amount of rod stretching and breaking usually encountered, since the initial force to move the rods is applied relatively slowly. The greatest force is applied during an intermediate portion of the stroke when static inertia is the lowest. The rod moves slow when the inertia is great at the bottom. This rod stretching and breaking is particularly bothersome with prior art structures. Also, minimum leverage is particularly desirable when the horsehead is in the up position as shown in FIG. 6, since the downward force of the counterbalancing weights is at its greatest when the horsehead is in the up position. As seen in FIG. 6, in the up position of the horsehead and down position of the weights, the points of connection of rope or cable 54 to the Samson post 36 and horsehead 78 are substantially in line with the point of pivot of the horsehead on walking beam 56, which effectively limits and opposes further upward movement of the walking beam and the horsehead 78 thereon. In common well pumping means, the motor or gearing structure shown generally at 124 in applicants drawings is the structure which receives the full force of the counterbalancing weights. This downward force represents a considerable amount of force and results in excessive wear and/ or repairing of the gear box and further requires greater structural strength to be initially provided in order to oppose this force.

Another advantage of the well pumping means shown in FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings is that when the connecting member 54 is a flexible member the unit itself will indicate the maximum stroke speed. For example, if too fast a stroke is being used, the rods in the well casing will not fall as fast as the walking beam is moving downwardly with the horsehead thereon, thus the horsehead 78 will be impeded in its downward movement and the cable 54 will become slack, thus readily indicating too fast a stroke speed. This simple mechanical feature provides a very easy manner for determining maximum stroke speed for any particular well load.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion Without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim: I

1. In a well pumping apparatus having a Samson post, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post, counterbalancing weight means carried by one end portion of said walking beam, power and connecting means operatively connected to rock said walking beam up and down in operation, the improvement comprising, in combination, a hanger member pivotally mounted in one end portion on the top of said walking beam on the other end portion thereof, a shaft transversely mounted in the other end portion of said hanger member, said shaft and said hanger member being positioned and constructed so that said shaft contacts and rests against the outer end of said walking beam when said hanger member is in the down position, an elongated horsehead, said horsehead being pivotally mounted on the end portions of said shaft intermediate the front and rear of said horsehead and having a pair of spaced and generally parallel side members with arcuate edges constructed to in operation project substantially forward of said walking beam and integral arm portions projecting substantially rearwardly of the point of pivot, said horsehead and said hanger member being pivotal about said walking beam to tilt back with said horsehead laying against the top of said walking beam, an upper connecting member joining said side members, said connecting member having an arcuate edge, said arcuate edges of said side members and said connecting member constructed and adapted to receive a pump rope or cable to be secured to a polish rod, a connecting means of rope or cable oppositely and pivotally secured in its end portions at fixed points on the outer end portions of said rearwardly projecting arm portions of said horsehead and in a central portion to a lower end portion of said Samson post, said last-named rope or cable and said horsehead being constructed and adapted so that in operation maximum leverage is obtained as said horsehead and said beam pass through an intermediate portion of the upward movement thereof and when said horsehead reaches its upper limit of movement in operation the axis of said connecting means and said point of pivot of said horsehead are substantially in line to thereby limit and resist further upward movement of said walking beam, reduce rod stretching and effectively balance said Weights at said one end of said beam as they reach their lowermost position, said arm portions of said horsehead having apertures therethrough alignable with apertures in said walking beam to receive a shaft to lock said horsehead and beams together in moving relation, said well pumping apparatus being constructed and adapted to in operation move said walking beam up and down with said horsehead member compounding the stroke of said walking beam by the leverage action of said arm portions thereof and said lastnamed rope or cable secured thereto, said horsehead being positioned during operation to maintain the arcuate edges thereof so as to position the cable or rope there on between said horsehead and a polish rod in a line generally coaxial with the axis of the Well casing.

2. In a well pumping apparatus having a Samson post, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said Samson post, counterbalancing means carried by one end portion of said walking beam, and power and connecting means operatively connected to said walking beam to rock said walking beam up and down in operation, the improvement comprising, in combination, a hanger member pivotally mounted in one end portion on the top of said walking beam at the other end portion thereof, a shaft mounted in the other end portion of said hanger member, said shaft and hanger member being positioned and constructed so that said shaft rests against the outer end of said walking beam, an elongated horsehead, said horsehead being pivotally mounted on the end portions of said shaft intermediate the front and rear of said horsehead and having an arcuate edge constructed to in operation project substantially forward of said walking beam and an integral arm portion projecting substantially rearwardly of the point of pivot, said horsehead and said hanger member being pivoted about said wallc'ng beam to tilt back with said horsehead laying against the top of said walking beam, said arcuate edge of said horsehead being constructed and adapted to carry a pump rope or cable to be secured to a polish rod, a connecting member pivotally secured in one end portion at a fixed point on the outer end portion of said reaiwardly projecting arm portion of said horsehead and in the other end portion to the lower end portion of said Samson post, said connecting member and said horsehead being constructed and adapted so that in operation leverage differential is obtained as said horsehead and said walking beam are moved with minimum leverage being obtained when said horsehead and said walking 'beam are substantially in their uppermost position with the point of pivot of said horsehead and the axis of said connecting member substantially in line to thereby limit upward movement of said walking beam said well pumping apparatus being constructed and adapted to in operation move said walking beam up and down with said horsehead member compounding the stroke of said Walking beam by the leverage action of said arm portion thereof and said connecting member secured thereto, said horsehead being positioned in operation to maintain the arcuate edge thereof so as to position the rope or cable thereon between said horsehead and a polish rod in a line generally coaxial with the axis of a well casing.

3. In a Well pumping apparatus having a Samson post, a walking beam carried by said Samson post, and means to rock said walking beam up and down in operation, the improvement comprising, in combination, a horsehead, said horsehead being pivotally mounted on one end portion of said walking beam, said horsehead having an arcuate portion forward of the point of pivot of said horsehead and an arm portion projecting rearwardly of the point of pivot of said horsehead, said forward portion of said horsehead being constructed and adapted to carry a pump rope or cable, a connecting member secured to said Samson post and pivotally secured in an end portion to a fixed point on said rearwardly projecting arm portion of said horsehead and being otherwise out of contact with said horsehead, said well pumping apparatus being constructed and adapted so that the axis of said connecting member and the point of pivot of said horsehead are substantially in line when said horsehead reaches its upper limit of movement.

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